Fiberglass composite structures: glass, but not fragile.

Fiberglass consists of numerous fine strands of silica polymers which may, depending on the type, include alkali oxides, aluminum, boron or other trace molecules. When embedded within an epoxy matrix and cured, the resultant composite is strong, lightweight and flexible. Conventionally known as fiberglass, such a composite is actually called glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), and is manufactured in different forms for specific permutations of material properties such as tensile strength, tenacity, compression strength and thermal expansion, as well as for different pricepoints.

A few types of glass fiber.

E-glass (the E signifying electrical), for example, is the cheapest type of glass fiber. E-glass has low electrical conductivity, making it a good choice for applications requiring electrically insulative characteristics. Though it has relatively low fiber modulus (~10.5 Msi), it is fairly strong (~500 Ksi). E-glass is an alumino-borosilicate glass that contains no alkali oxides. It makes up most of the world’s glass fiber production.

S-glass (S for stiff, or alternatively, for strong) is an alumino-silicate glass fiber commonly used in aerospace applications. It has a higher modulus (~12.5 Msi) and strength (~600 Ksi) than does E-glass. While S-glass was a trade name developed by Owens-Corning Inc., other manufacturers use a different designation, such as T-glass and R-glass, for their S-glass equivalents, and the S-glass terminology has come to colloquially reference all of these. S-glass composites tend to be higher than other glass composites in tensile strength. C-glass is a glass fiber variant developed for its resistance to chemical degradation. It is ideal for laminate surfacing and for corrosive environments.

Fiberglass composite production at Advanced Composites Inc.

Advanced Composites Inc. produces many fiberglass composite (GRP) products. In some cases, such as our Cataract Oars SGX oar shaft, fiberglass is interlaced with carbon fiber in a layered composite matrix; in other cases, the GRP itself meets the specifications of a particular composite application. Most commonly, Advanced Composites Inc. manufactures fiberglass composite products for the aerospace, defense, energy and utility sectors.